Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-18

feet, depth of water of six feet and en- esti-
mated capacity of sis cubic feet per second. The
available fall for this volume of water will be
seventy feet, which it is proposed TO divide into
two falls of thirty and forty feet respectively.
The total horse-powe claimed to be represented
by these figures is ,096 of which about seventy
| five per cent or 1862 could be made effective.
ANADoR AND SACRAMENTO CANAL.
The AmadoT and Sacramento Canal generally
known as the Ritter ditch, takes water from the
south side OF Costumes river. The main ditch
| is about twenty-five miles long. Its head is at
| the mouth of Muslcdale canyon, about four
miles northwest OF Plymouth near the north
| west corner of section IS, township north
range 10 east. At its head stone dam about
! fourteen feet high is maintained across the
stream, and for the distance of about a mile the
ditch is protected at many points from the de-
structiye force of the river at its high stages by
means of n stone wall, which forms the riTec
Dank OF the dltch. rms stone wall as well as
| the dam are constructed of rubble masonry laid
| in cement. The crest length of the dam is
| about $50 feet. The dimensions of the ditch
are about as follows: Width on top, feet
width on bottom. feet depth, 5 leet The
| fumes along the line of the ditch are 5
feet wide and 8 feet 1 inches deep.
The grade OF the upper portion of the ditch is
about ~ to feet per mile. The capacity
| claimed Tor 1t is 1000 miners inches. Hereto
| fore the water carried by the ditch has been
used principally for mining, though some has
/ been used for irrigation for thirty years past.
Its use for irrigation has been gradually inereas
| ing.
The main ditch ends in a small reservoir
| near Michigan Bar, from which water is dis
| tributed in various directions. Water is de-
livered into the reservoir at an elevation prob
| ably 275 feet above Sacramento. As the Ca
| pacity of the ditch exceeds the low water flow
of Costumes river, and as its rights to water are
the Oldest along the river. its owners control to
| some extent all diversions at points above the
head OF the ditch, and can compel a return Of
all the water diverted into the watershed of
| Costumes river at points where it will again be-
| come available for their ditch. The Amador
| ated in November, 1858, with u capital stock of
500 600, in So shares of 81 900 each. 1t had be-
fore Incorporation secured all the waterrights
| and property of the Prairie Water Company S
ditch also of the Tribal stitch, fourth inter
est in the Ranch Bar ditch. q fourth interest in
the Perry ditch, also the dit h of the Costumes
and Michigan Bar Canal Company. The COM
pany has since acquired the remaining three
| fourths interest in the Ranch Bar well as in
| the Perry ditch. The construction of some of
| these bitches had commenced as early as 1852.
1t is claimed for the Ritter Ditch that not
withstapding its great length, the cost of main
tenance is small. and that it could easily be en-
foothill and rolling lands south of Costumes
river are the natural district for irrigation with
| water from this canal.
THE CONCLUSION.
From the foregoing 1t is apparent that much
has already been done n"1o toward supplying water
| part of this county. The good
| work that has been done, and that is being done
| by the canal owners should, however, be prop
| erly and promptly seconded by the land owners.
| The extension of the bitches should be encour-
| aged, and the existing works should be supple
mented by properly-l located large canals to sup
ply water in large quantity to the level portions
| of this county.
This cannot be accomplished more econom-
| ically than by the owners of the land them
| selves and now that cur State Government has
provided way for the organization of irriga-
ton districts and a community control of water
| used for irrigation, with equal rights to all
trust it will not be long before all the land OF
| the county will be embraced in some organized
| irrigation distrit. Respectfully submitted
| C. L. GRUNsKY, Civil Engineer.
| Sacramento August 10. 1881